There may be a million questions that go through your mind when you make the decision to receive a breast enhancing cosmetic procedure. That’s why Dr. Diederich, along with the team at MidAmerica Plastic Surgery, strives to ensure that the stress a patient may feel when choosing the right procedure is always kept to the bare minimum.
A common question brought up in a consultation is “Do I need a breast lift or breast augmentation?”. The answer is always dependent on the patient, but oftentimes the answer is simple: Both. To help gain a better understanding of each procedure, we’ve listed a few specifics about both breast lift and breast augmentation procedures.
Breast Lift– Also referred to as a mastopexy, a breast lift helps to reposition your natural breasts using a less invasive technique to minimize scarring. The focus of a breast lift procedure is to elevate and enhance your natural breast by using your own breast tissue – eliminating the need for implants. With that said, a breast lift will not add volume to your breasts. A typical breast lift procedure ranges from 2-5 hours. After surgery, patients can expect for their breasts to feel swollen, but notice an immediate change in the shape and position of the breasts. Exercise or over-the-shoulder lifting should be avoided for at least 2 weeks or as recommended by Dr. Diederich.
Breast Augmentation– A surgical procedure that involves a patient undergoing anesthesia during the procedure. A typical breast augmentation procedure ranges from 1-2 hours in time. Patients may experience bruising and/or swelling and most notice their scars fading in 4-6 weeks. Recovery time varies by patient, but the average downtime is about 10 days. The results of a breast augmentation surgery usually do not require additional procedures down the road.
Both a breast lift and a breast augmentation procedure can reshape a patient’s breasts, just in different ways. So why do some patients often opt to combine these two procedures?
Sometimes a patient may not have enough natural breast tissue to achieve the shape they want with only a breast lift. A breast lift with implants ensures results closer to what patients have in mind as an ideal look.
Another reason has to do with the fact that although a breast lift will help to elevate your breasts, there is nothing to ensure that they won’t begin to lose their shape again down the road. The addition of implants provides more longevity in the on-going battle against the G word: gravity. When Dr. Diederich accompanies a breast lift with implants, the patient will notice fuller, more restorative-shaped breasts that last.
If you’re curious about what cosmetic breast procedure is right for you, please call MidAmerica Plastic Surgery at 618-288-7955 to book a consultation or just fill out this form!
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